That's it from Alex and me for the year. And what a year it's been. We wish you and your loved ones all the very best for Christmas and the New Year. We'll see you when Parliament returns on 5 February, 2018.

Greens senator Janet Rice has only a few words to say: "About bloody time."

Magda Szubanski says: "I am a little bit delirious, it is extraordinary. I am single, I can't....Well, now I can get married. I did not do this as a big personal ad, but what an extraordinary moment."

"I could see when I watched all of those people moved to the 'yes' side of the house, I thought Canberra was going to tip over, and for someone who grew up feeling on the brink of suicide, seriously, as so many of us have because we have felt unwanted, unlike, we fell below, to feel so loved now and to see that Parliament nearly tip over in support for us was an amazing feeling."

The House of Representatives as it votes for same-sex marriage on Thursday.

Liberal senator Dean Smith is speaking: "This is a great win for Australian values.The survey said a lot about people's attitudes to same-sex marriage, it said a lot about their attitudes about Australian values and how they should be applied in a contemporary way. I am proud to be a parliamentarian, I have always wanted to be a parliamentarian. Even when I was that nerdy kid at school."

"People can be proud that over the last few weeks, they have seen the best of their Parliament, the best of their parliamentarians, as I said before, the real challenge going forward is to think about how we can do this more often, how we can do this more often, how we can put the politics of partisanship aside."

"I would like to dedicate the day's win to a special group of people, and that is to those young LGBTQI Australians, who in their workplace or in their school yard, find life a little tough. Let me tell you, 'you are OK, it will all be OK, and this is a great country to grow up and be an LGBTQI Australian'."

6:37pm on 7 Dec 2017

Attorney-General George Brandis has some important information for people wanting to get married.

"The right to marry in Australia will no longer be determined by sex or gender. Marriage will now be defined in the Marriage Act 1961 as the 'union of two people to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life'. Same-sex couples now have the same rights under the Marriage Act as all other couples," Senator Brandis says.

"These historic reforms will commence on Saturday 9 December 2017. As from Saturday, same-sex couples will be able to lodge a Notice of Intended Marriage to commence the one month minimum notice period required before the solemnisation of marriages under the Marriage Act."

This means THE FIRST WEDDINGS WILL BE HELD JUST A FEW DAYS INTO THE NEW YEAR.

Liberal MP Warren Entsch lifts Labor MP Linda Burney into the air after the same-sex marriage vote in the House of Representatives.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten gets caught up in the party atmosphere outside the chamber: "I felt I was privileged to be part of a historic change which includes treating all Australiansequally."

"I'm humbled by the event. This isn't about me or the other 150 members of Parliament. It is about Australians and Australia, and the LGBTIQ people and their families and their partners. We are telling them we love you, you're equal."

Crossbench MPs Rebekha Sharkie, Andrew Wilkie, Adam Bandt and Cathy McGowan in the House of Representatives after the vote.

Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

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6:01pm on 7 Dec 2017

The House of Representatives (and, therefore, the Australian Parliament) has voted in favour of same-sex marriage.

The house and public galleries are full of cheers, shouts, applause, hugs, kisses and general jubilation.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in the House of Representatives after the vote to legislate same-sex marriage.

Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

6:00pm on 7 Dec 2017

The final vote is being held.

The MPs voting against the legislation are Russell Broadbent, Keith Pitt, David Littleproud and Bob Katter.

Because there are less than five MPs voting no the legislation is declared passed.

Tony Abbott left the chamber before the final vote.

Russell Broadbent and Bob Katter vote against the same-sex marriage legislation in the House of Representatives.